Automobile brake mechanism



June 2 Filed Aug. 20, 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jun 2, 1925.

T. DEVINE AUTOMOBILE BRAKE MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 20, 1921 midi/V2023 77cm My 25 III/m Patented June 2, 1925.

enemas M. Davina, Immune smears, onto;

Q AnroMwiL-a BRAKE Mnermnrs vn Application filed August 20, 1921, Serial No. 493,77 8.

1 '0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS M. DnviNn,

a citizen of the United tates residing at Cleveland Heights, in the county of (hiya hoga and State of ()hio, have invented a certain new and usefulImprovement in Automobile Brake Mechan sm, of whichthe following is a full, clear," and exact description,reference being had to the accompanying drawings. is V a y This inventlon is directed to improve ments in brake mechanism, and is more particularly concerned with automobile brakes of the friction band type.

which may be operatedselectively. These brake sets are usually comprised of a brake;

drum and an inner and outer brake adapted to bear upon the lnner and outer circumferential surfaces of the drum. Theouter brake band usually serves as a utility or service brake, while the inner brake band is generally used only in case of emergency. The usual practice in constructing the outer brake is to arrange a flexible steel band having a suitable lining of fibrous materia l substantially aroundthe entire circumference of the drum and which is adapted to be contracted onto the drum by a suitablecontrol orpedal positioned at the drivers seat, One:

end of the band is secured 'tothe axle housing of the automobile while the other e1iolissecured to suitable linkage connected to the drivers control lever. A spring associated with the linkage serves toexpand the band out of contact with the drum surfacev when I the brake is released. i

In this type of automobile brake it is frequently necessary to renew the brake lining which necessitates the removal of the wheels. Another objection to this arrange]- ment is that the flexible metallic band or shoe while initially arranged to support the lining withfa slight clearance between the lining and the surface of the brake drum becomes permanently distorted and permits the lining to continuouslyrub on the brake drum when the brake is not in use. This consequently results in a premature destruction of the brake lining. As the leverage reduction from the drivers control to the brake levers is very great the'clearance space between. the drumand lining 1s necessarily 1 limited as increase thisclearance would V jmanual force. In the constructlon of automobile brakes, it is customary to provide two sets of brakes along the line 44 of Fig. 3.

thereb twee require a considerably greater movement of the dr vers control lever. j The general ob ect of my invention therefore, is the provision of, an automobile brake of 811111316 and durable constructlon wherein the brake lining mayvunder all conditions be supported with a uniform clearance between the lining. and the dru m surface."

Another object is the provision .of novel mechanism arranged to constrict two sepa rately mounted portions of the lining upon the drum surface to render efi'ective braking action with a minimum application of A more specific object of my invention is concerned with the provision of brake mechanism. that may; be conveniently removed from an automobile without necessitating the removalof the wheels. v

Other objects will become apparent from a description hereinafter set forthreferring to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of my inven- 't1on;and the essential,

4 characteristics are summarized n the claims.

- In the drawings, Fig.1 isa side elevation Inounted'brake shoes contracted upon a brake ofmy device with a pair of independently drum; Fig, 2 isfa fragmentary end elev ation ofthe same; Fig. 3 is a View similar-to Fig. 1 but illustrating the POSltlOn of the brake shoes and various parts of the Inechfl.

anism in normal inoperative position; Fig;

l is a cross sectional'view of the drum and part of the mechanism taken substantially Considerable difliculty has been experienced with brake mechanism wherein the brake liningis carried by a brake shoe eX- ten'ding substantially around the circumference of thebrake drum for the continuous use of the brake mechanism causes the permanent setting of the band or shoe which supports the lining. In a great many cases the lining rests in contact with the rotating drum surface when-the brake mechanism'fis not in use. .As it isimpract'ical to provide any vconsiderable clearance between thebrake drum andthe brake lining. due to the multiplic'ation of the lever ratios from the driveri position to the drum, it is evident that in any successful brakemechanism the brake f lining should be maintained out of contact.

with the drum with very slight clearance To me h requ ment, I hav placed the usual circular band With a pair offiexible bands 7 each extendingsubs'tantially half Way around the brake drum 8. These brake bands 01' shoes may have a suitable brake lining 9 rigidly seemed to the inner faces thereof which is adapted to -bear upon the flange portion 10 of the drumfi 'When the mechanism is contracted. 'I have provided pivotal mountings 11 rigidly secured'to the d1ametrieally ,oppos1te ends of these shoes ivhieh may preferably serve -a three fold purpose, namely, aconnecting,

member between the band and contracting l i. I 7 I a linkage, athi ust member for raising the huin'g outof Colntaet ivith the drum and asa PIYQt-bBZIIHAQ for the brake bands ilSfiYlll herein e e c ibed As a pivot ,vbearing'these members are adapted ltolceactwith andlslide on La pivet block -l4-,niounted on a pivot stud 15 calliie'd by supportingfiange-112 rigidlyjsecured to the rear'axle housing of the automobile.

For bringing the brake liningeai ried by the shoes into contact With the rbrakefdi'um, I have provided link mechanism comprised substantially of rocker lever 18 suitably mounted on a stud 19 which is'rigidly secu e o t e flang 2- Th e r Bai ey be iiigidly mounted on a suitable sleeve" upon'ivhi cha second lever 21 may also be rigidly mounted. This sleeve With the levers mounted thereon may be retained "in position by any su table means such as'a suitable Washer 28 and a lock nut 24;. A

tension rod 25extending to aeontrol lever (not shown) may-be j 5"ivotall-y connected to a bifurcated end 21 of the "lever ;21 bfy ,asuitable pin 26. Both .ends of the rocker lever 18 may be dconnec'ted fto ofiset bell crank levels 27 byconnecting rods 111 While supported iby,thejprojectin heai'ii l integral WItllihQ members 11. 9

7 mayflbe pivqtally joined to endmembers ward the rear axle center 32 by'the "o the bell cranks may be connected to 'the brake shoes by links 2-8 which'gai e pi ally I0 obtain, the proper binding ,nioyement of'the brake shoes onto the drum. have, .1" ranged link connect ons 29.011 the ,HLW AIQCllY extending short arms of the bell crank 1ethe links 28 serving as a floating bearing other hand, the lining may be unit r the bell crank levers ppli d y Li elthe ng m e 7 ,Qf"

support for the bell cranks when the brake band's-are brought into action by the movement of the'b ell cranks and connecting links so:

To maintain the brake shoes and the lining in normal clearing position out or" contact with the-drum and with the uniform ('lear anee thei'ebet veen, I have provided elongated bearing slots 13 to permlt an outward shifting of the pivotal end of the brake bands. This" outward shifting more ment may be obtained by a resilient member 83 1naintai'ned in position by a suitable guide member 38 pivotallv secured to a reinfqi'cing plate 37 carriedby the brake support flange -12. A similar guide member 38 associated with the other end of the brake band hav ng ,a 0 01111110 11"plVOif-ilrl center v With the guide member 38 may serve to retain a resilient member in position. Theseresil ent 'members serve to sh ft the bandout of contact vwith the drunih vhen the brake'ineehanism is released. The an g l r atienl thes membe s wi h spje'ot to the ends of the bands issilch that the force exerted thereby upon the bands While being slufiicie'nt to normally maintain the brake l -111mg out of contact with the drum surf age, may be read ly overcome by the lever mechanism Vl tllQilt appreciably etrwmg rom t PQ are-fl h i by upon the ,brakeshoesfj The outer ends of the resilient members 33 and 13% may "bear PQI u abl ug v34 gander f rmed i t rally mil the eu m mbe i's 11 an' respectively: Ithe piyotal oenters of the bell .Cljfinks 27' and the links 28 and'BO are not definitely fixed, it 1 is .to ;be' seen that the brake mechanism Qivill readily fadjust itself to theyarious v regulations involved 'w en the brake meeh anism brought [into action.

E i ikewise t -b Seen I i i easy [01 s 'd'i elo sing novcmentoffthe,ln alte shoes is ails o' ob 'ined when the'l'bifal ie mechanism is released. Eurthernio e. by thus providing shif ting moyement ;oi' "the pivotal genthe entire surfa-ce vof the lining? with full. force upon the drum surface, \vlnle on the raised 011i of'eontact with the drum sin when the brake 'me c'lianism is i no pera ye Thelinl'n ge and level aiidmge nent i v I e that a great l'nultiplication of power may be iob tained from the drivers' control lever to th lin 's' whee-mg the h, lt at ir l l3}i1 1ustrates =t-1is .i Q b n the nut ivhen' the vehicle gamin The brake Q1 th od 2 wh h Week the lever, and pens the we rods ,11 ithus e ak n th be pra ks and ,ii ng th links :30 to -Ward an diametric Plane d z fi-thesame tim =1? he links as is the opposite direction. rfiexptn at the links 30 draws the band lengthwise or itself while't'hc pullon the links 28 results in an inwardly sliding movement" of the u'iountings 11. This brings the two bands into tight engagement with the brake drum at each end of the band and intermediately as illustrated in Fig. 1. Upon release of the constraint on therod 25, the springs '33 and 34, which'were compressed by such action, react and force the mountings'll' and the opposite ends of from the drum.

Having thus described my invention,"I claim z+ 1. In an automobile, a brake -mechanism having in combinations brake drum, a paireach end of each brake shoe for normally maintaining the brake shoes in non-brakable position, and means for compressing sald reslhent members and for constrlctmg the brake lining carried by said shoes upon the brake drum.

3. In an automobile, a brake mechanism having in combination a brake drum, a pair of brake shoes, brake lining mounted thereon, a support rigid with the rearvaxle housing upon which said brake shoes are slidably mounted, and resilient means for moving one end of one brake shoe and the substantially diametrically opposite end of the other brake shoe in a transverse direction.

4. In an automobile brake mechanism, the combination of a rigid support, a brake drum, a pair of brake shoes, a plurality of resilient members one associated with each end of each brake shoe for normally maintaining the brake shoes in non-brakable position, and means for compressing said resilient members and'for constricting the brake shoes upon the brake drum.

5. In a brake mechanism, the combination with the brake drum, of a pair of brake shoes, means for slideably supporting two ends of two shoes at opposite sides of the drum,and-means for shifting said ends in a direction transverse to the drum surface and shifting the other two ends of the two brake shoes in a circumferential direction.

6. In an automobile, a brake mechanism having in combination a brake drum, a supporting member rigidly connected to the rear axle housing of the automobile, a pair of brake shoes having their diametrically opposite ends pivotally and slidably mounted on said support and guide members having a the brakefbands away of the brake mechanism.

7. Inan automobile brake mechanism, the

tact with said brake drum upon the releasing combination of aiibrakefdrum, a support, a pair of brake shoes mounted on the support I fund expanding means positioned at each end of e-achbrake shoe for raising the brake shoes out of contact with the drum surface.

8."In an automobile brake mechanism, the

pair of semi-circular brakeshoes extending around the outer surface of the drum having pivotal and slidable connections with said support in diametrically opposite positions and means for drawing the brake shoes onto the drum including connecting links associatedwith bell crank members supported by said brake shoes.

9. In an automobile brake mechanism, the combination of a brake drum, asupport, a pair of semi-circular brake shoes extending around theouter surface of the drum having pivotal and slidable connections with said support in diametrically opposite positions, means for drawing the brake shoesonto the drum including bellcrank members as.- sociated with connecting links supported by said brake shoes, and means carried by the support .for shifting said levers and brake shoes to an inoperative position. i I

10.111 an automobile, a brake mechanism havin in combination abrake drum, a'support rigidly secured to the rear axle housing, a pair of brake shoes havingtheir ends pivotally mounted on said support, a pair of bell crank members linked to the ends of said brake shoes, a rocker lever pivotally mounted on said support, members connecting the ends of said rocker lever with said bell cranks and mechanism controlled from the drivers position on the automobile for operating said bell cranks connecting links,

and'rocker lever whereby said brake shoes may be constricted about the outer surface of said brake drum.

11. In an automobile brake mechanism,

the combination of a brakedrum, a pair of brake shoes, a support having slidable and pivotal connections for each of said brake shoes, and means for shifting each adjacent pair of ends of the two brake shoes in a circumferential and transverse direction to the drum surface. i

12. In an automobile brake mechanism, the combination of a brake drum, a support, a' pair of semi-circular brake shoes extending around the outer surface of the drum slidably connected to said support to permit radial movement but effectively anchored against circumferential movement and means for drawing the brake shoesonto the drum combination of a brake drum, a sup'pojrt, a

the combination Of it brake drum, ei support,

a pair of flexible brake'hgancls gnonnteden the'supjport, contractmg means POSitlQlQBd 'at each end of each band for .drziwing'the band onto the ch nm sui 'inee encl e xpznnhng means positionedfet eehenclof each ,band for l eising the b'and fronythedrun; su rfaee.

14; In .a brake nieehanisnnwthe cqmbin'zition of a; biake drum, a stipport, 315931 of flexible brake hands mounted 'at eppesite ends on the supp0rt,'centraeting 1ne' ;u1 sp0si signatul e.

tioned at each en i oi the eeeh hl ekebend fer drawing one end inwardly and the ether eci c iiifier tially to apply the byake.

15. n a bilk'e mechanism, the combinatlen' of a brake (hum, a support, p31 of flexlble brake bands mounted at o'ppeslte ends en thesuppol t, contracting means pesl- I tioned abegtclffehdef each brake band fo r drawing" one end inwardly and the other 'cirexnnferentiall? tdapply the brake; and

resilient n leans adapted to move each end of each brake band to free it help the drum surface. s e

In testlmony whereoi, I hereunto afiig: lny

THOMAS DEVINE- 

